noun
phases of the age; aspects of the times
Refers to the characteristic features, trends, or phases of a particular era or period. Often used in historical or sociological contexts.
この小説は明治の時代相をよく表している。
This novel vividly depicts the phases of the Meiji era.
世相 refers to the social conditions or public sentiment of a particular time, often with a focus on current affairs, whereas 時代相 is broader and can encompass historical phases.
Compound of 時代 (jidai, 'era, period') and 相 (sō, 'aspect, phase'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally yields the meaning 'phases of an age'.